Shock absorber



1,635,284 July 12, 1927. y L' L.. LOMAR SHOCK ABSORBER Fild Aug. 26 19262 Sheets-Sheet l Stk w July 12, 1927.

1 .A L. LoMAR SHOCK ABSORBER z sheets-sneer 2 3mm/tofs Z. [amar i 1.preferably cylindrical,

Patented July 1,2, 1927.

tours L. Loman, or HoUsroN, rExs.

srroox Assouline.

Application led August 26, 1926. Serial No. 131,688.

My invention relates to shock absorbers adapted to be used uponautomobiles and other vehicles and upon various other structures inwhichcushioning of the relative movement of associated parts isdesirable. More particularly, my invention relates' to shock absorbersof the fluid type, and is a modification of the .genera-l constructionof shock absorber of that type disclosed in my copending application,Serial No. @8,420, filed November 11, 1925.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of a shockabsorber of the type referred to which will be simple in constructionand operation, but which will eect a gradual cushioning of both theshock and the rebound.

Furthery objects of the invention are the provision'of improved meansore'fecting the cushioning action gradually and smoothly, and theprovision of means for regulating the speed and degree of the cushioningaction, and for adjusting the device for use with diEerent loads andoperating conditions.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the shock absorber,

Figure 2 is a similar view, 2-2 of Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,and

Figure 4 is a detail View of the valve means associated with'the hollowpiston rod.

My present invention comprises a casing a-piston 5 slidably therein andcarried by a hollow piston rod 10, provided with a ertures 14 in itswalls and a spring-presse plunger 42 in its bore, and an aperturedtubular valve member 9 adjustably mounted within the casing andextendingY within the hollow piston rod 10.'

The ends of the casing are closed by caps 2 and 3, tightly clamped uponthe casing by nuts 30 screwed upon the reduced screw threaded ends ofrods 4, which are also clamped between caps 2 and 3. The rods fl passthrough openings 50 in piston 5, and serve to guide the piston in itsmovement and prevent it from turning.

rifhe piston 5 is provided with apertures 13, controlled by valves 33,311, hingedly mounted so Las s to permit free passage of Huid throughthe apertures while the piston taken on line iitted is movingdownwardly. The valves may bc hinged to the piston rod, as at 60.

The inner end of the piston rod 10 extends through, and is screwed intoor otherwise secured in an opening in piston 5. The open end of thehollow piston rod 10, to-` gether with apertures 14 in its walls,prefer-' ably oppositely disposed and preferably adjacent the piston,afford an auxiliary communicating passage between the fluid chambers 7and 8on opposite sides of the piston. i

Regulation of the this'passage-way is effected by means of the hollowvalve stem '9, Vprovided with one or flow of. fluid through r morelongitudinal slots 15 in its walls, each l preferably enlarged at itsmiddle portion, as at 45, and gradually tapering in width toward eachend. Valve 9 is mounted in an opening provided for it in casin cap 3,and, when in position, extends into t e open end of hollow piston rod10, with which it is in close telescopic engagement.

The valve 9 vis rotatably secured in position by a rib 16 on the valverotatably held against a shoulder upon cap 3 by means of a packingwasher 18, compressed by aA screw cap 17. It desired, the parts may befurther secured against accidental displacement by a cotter pin 53.

By means of an arm 46 attached to its reduced outer end, valve 9 may berotated to vary the relative position of the slots 15 with respect tothe apertures 14 in the walls of the hollow piston rod 10. By this meansthe valve 9 may be readily adjusted, from the exterior of the casing, toopen or close the passage through slot 15 and aperture 14 to any desireddegree, and thus regulate the degree of resistance to flow of Huidbetween chambers 7 and 8. This regulation is of particular importanceyin controlling the action of the device during the upward mmovement oithe piston, at Awhich time the C*openings 13 are closed and passage ofiiuid between the chambers 7.and 8 is necessarily through apertures 14alone.

The casing, with its caps '2 and 3, is

adapted to contain oil or other fluid, its inv 1, preferably 52therewith. l

The bore of the hollow piston rod 10 is closed at its outer end by ascrew plug 39, which' also acts as an abutment for a coil spring 41disposed within the bore and in engagement at its opposite4 end with aplunger 42, provided withV an aperture 54 controlled by a check Valve43. ,The plunger 42,` under the influence of spring 41, is adapted toseat upon the upper end of the valve tube 9, or upon the column of fluidin the hollow piston rod, and act as an auxiliary resistance element toprovide addiby a screw-threaded connection .tional cushioning meansduring the downward movement of the piston rod 10 and piston 5. Theportion of the hollow piston rod above Yplunger 42 may be used as aleservoir chamber for the oil or other fluid used in the device, thevalvedplunger -42, under the influence of spring 41, maintaining apressure upon the body of fluid in the casing and, through valve 43,supplying additional fluid to the casing when necessary. By this i meansthe casing is kept constantly full of fluid.

In use, the fluid casing and the hollow piston rod of my device are.designed and adapted to be attached to relatively movable parts of avehicle. Any suitable connectingI means may be employed. In the drawingsI have shown, by way ofexample, a shackle bolt connected to the end ofthe piston rod `10,by an ordinary form of universal joint 21, adjustmentbeing permitted by the screwthreaded connection of nut 40 and housing 56with the piston rod. In the preferred embodiment of my `invention thefluid casing is attached to the vehicle through a joint connection 22,the housing for which is formed as an integral` extension of the casingcap 3.

The casing, through connection 22, may be secured to the axle of anautomobile, and the iston rod 10, throughconnection 21,

'to tie automobile frame, but this manner of attachment and use of theinvention is merely illustrative, as the piston rod and casing may beconnected to any relatively movable parts of a vehicle or similarstruc-v ture.

The manner .of operation of my invention is as follows I-Under ordinaryrunning conditions, over relatively smooth roads, the resulting shockswill be taken up by the automobile springs, and the relatively slightshocks which'i-"nay be transmitted to the shock absorber will cause onlya relatively short travel of the piston 5 ineither direction. The pistonmovement within these narrow limits will be accommodated by thecomparatively free passage of fluid between Huid chambers 7 and 8. Whilethe piston` 5 is in this central or neutralzone, the fluid is permittedto pass freely through openings irf the surface of the road are slight.lVhen greater unevenness ismet with, the travel of the piston isincreased, the aperture 14 is gradually moved out of register withtheenlarged opening 45, and the passage of fluid through aperture 14 isrestricted to that quantity which can pass through the graduallynarrowing slot 15 in tube 9.

When the automobile encounters an irregularity in the road surface,piston rod 10 and piston 5 are forced downwardly and fluid lpassesthrough openings 13 and throug the central passage formed by the openend of the hollow piston rod, slot 15 and aperture 14. As the piston rodand piston continue to move downwardly th'e passage of fluid throughaperture 14 is gradually restricted by the gradual decrease in area ofthe slot 15 which registers with opening 14. This continued downwardmovement is also cushioned by the action of the spring-pressed plunger42. Upon its downward stroke the piston rod 10, moving into the chamber8, gradually displaces a certain quantity of fluid, which is forcedthrough opening 14 and slot 15 into the bore of the piston rod beneathplunger 42, in opposition to the force exerted against the plunger byspring 41. By means of the gradually increasing resistances thusofl'ered by slot 15 and spring 41, tbe downward movement ofpiston 5 isgradually checked and stopped.'

As the piston begins 'its upward travel, caused by the rebound of theautomobile springs, valves 33 and 34 are closed and passage of fluidthrough openings 13 is prevented. Fluid is then compelled to, pass lll()from one fluid chamber to the other entirely e violent, is effectivelyretarded andl gradually checked. A

1. In a device of the character described, acasing adapted to contain afluid, a piston within said casing, a hollow piston rod open to theinterior of the casing on one side of said piston and having an aperturein its Wall on theopposite side of the piston,v

a tubular valve mounted in said casing and extending into said hollowpiston rod, said valve having a slot in its wall adapted to registerwith the aperture in said piston rod,

`side of the piston, said piston rod a casing adapted to contain afluid, a pistono within said-casing, a piston rd, said piston rod andsaid piston having a conduit therein open to the interior of said casingon one having an aperture in its wall pifoviding a communication betweensaid conduit and the in` vterior of said casing on the opposite side ofthe piston, and a tubular valve in said casing extending into saidconduit, said valve having an opening in its wall and being aXiallyadjustable to bring said opening into or out ot register with theaperture in said piston rod, said easing and said piston rod beingadapted lobe connected to relatively movable parts of a vehicle.

In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to cont-ain afluid, a piston 'within said casing,.said piston having an openingtherethrough, a piston rodhaving a conduit therein in communication withthe opening through said piston, said piston rod having an aperture inits wall, and a tubular valve in said casing extending into saidconduit', saidvalve having a tapered 'slot in its wall adaptedtoregister with the aperture in said piston rod, said easing and saidpiston rod being adapted to be connected to relatively movable parts ofa vehicle.

4. In a device of the character described,

a casing adapted to contain a lluid, a piston in said easing, saidpiston having an open` ing therethrough, a piston rod having a conduittherein in communication with the opening through` said piston andhaving an aperture in its wall, and a tubular valve in said casingextending into said conduit, said valve having a longitudinal slot inits wall gradually tapering in width from its middle portion to cach endand adapted to register with the aperture in said piston rod, saidcasing and said piston rod being adapted to be connected to relativelymovable parts of a vehicle.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted. to containa fluid, a pist'on in said easing, said piston having an opening'therethrough, a piston rod having a conduit in communication with saidpiston opening and an aperture in its wall, and a tubular valve in saidcasing extendin into said conduit, said valve having a ongitudinalopening iii'f"its wall substantially the size of ,said piston rodaperture at its middle portion and tapering in width toward either end,said casing and said piston rod being adapted to be connected torelatively4 movable parts of a vehicle.

6.y In a device ot' the character described, a casing adapted to containa fluid, a piston in said casing, said piston having an open- -iii saidcasing, a

ing therethrough, a

wall and being adjustable to bring said slot into or out of registerwith said aperture in said piston rod, said casing and said piston rodbeing adapted to be connected to relatively movable parts of a vehicle.

7 In a 'device of the character described, a casing adapted to conta-ina fluid, a piston hollow piston rod having an aperture in its wall andits inner end open to the interiorot the casing through said piston, atubular valve adjustably mounted in .said casing and extending into saidhollow piston rod, said v'alve having an opening in its wall adapted tobe brought into and out of register with the aperture in said pistoni'od, and guide rods secured within said'casing and extending throughsuitable openings in said piston, said piston being provided with anauxiliary passage therethrough, and a check valve controlling saidpassage, said casing and said piston ro being adapted to be connected torelatively movable parts of a vehicle. y

' 8. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to containa fluid, a piston in said casing having an opening therethropgh, ahollow piston rod having oppositcly disposed apertures in its wall andcoinmunicating with the interior of the casing through said pistonopening onthe opposite side of said piston, and a tubular valve mountedin said casing and axially adjustable therein, said valve extending intosaid hollow piston rod and having oppositely disposed longitudinal slotsin its wall gradually tapering in width from the middleportion towardeach end, to provide for regulation of the passage of fluid through saidepposi'tely disposed piston rod apertures.

9. In a device of the character described, a easing adapt-ed to containa fluid, a piston in said casing, a hollow piston rod open at its innerend to the interior of said casing on`one side of said piston and havingan aperture in its wall on the opposite side of said hollow piston rod,said plunger having a valved passage therethrough, and a tubular valvewithin said hollow piston rod, said valve having a slot in its walladapted to register with the aperture in said' hollow piston rod, saidcasing and said piston rod being adapted to be connected to relativelymovable parts of a vehicle.

10. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to containafluid, a piston dividing the interior of said casing into two fluidchambers and provided-with an opening connecting said lluid chambers, ahollow piston rod having a fluid reservoir chamber in its outer portionand open at its inner end to one of said casing chambers through said.piston opening, said piston rod being provided with an aperture in itsWall communicating with the other casing chamber, a tubular valve insaid casing extending into sa-id hollow piston rod, said valve having anopening in its wall ada ted to be brought into and out of register withsaid piston rod aperture, and a check valve controlling the passage offluid from said reservoir chamber, said casing and said piston rod-being adapted to be connected to relatively movable parts of a vehicle.

11. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to containa fluid, a piston in said casing, a hollow piston rod providing a\ypassage for fluid from one side of said piston to the other, and atapered Valve member mounted in said casing and extending into saidhollow piston rod to control said passage, said casing and said pistonrod t being adapted to be connected to relatively movable parts of avehicle.

12. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to containa uid, a piston in said casing, a hollow piston rod providing a passagefor fluid from one side of said piston to the other, a tapered valvemember adjustably mounted in said casing and extending into said hollowpiston rod to com trol said passage, said piston being provided with 1an auxiliary passage for fluid therethrough, and a check valve therefor.

18. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to containa fluid, a piston insaid casing, a hollow piston rod providing a passagefor Huid from one side of Said piston to the other, a tapered valvemember mounted in said casing and extendin into said hollow piston rodto control sai sage, said piston rod having a fluid reservoir chambertherein, a valved plunger between said reservoir chamber and saidpiston, said casing and said piston rod being adapted to be connected torelatively movable parts of a vehicle.

' LOUIS L. LOMAR.

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